Back to school: Finish day with s'mores treat

Peanut butter s'mores bars hint at summer and make a sweet afternoon treat for children.

School often starts when children still have summer on the brain. So these easy-to-make bars have summer in mind, too.

We aimed for a simple snack with the flavor of s’mores, but with the texture, ease and portability of puffed rice treats. We ended up with a layer of marshmallow-rich crushed graham crackers topped with chocolate.

To make things interesting, we turned them into peanut butter s’mores bars. But if your kids aren’t peanut butter inclined, just leave it out.

Peanut butter s’mores bars

Start to finish: 20 minutes (plus cooling)

Servings: 12

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

10-ounce package marshmallows

¼ cup smooth natural peanut butter

3 cups graham cereal, lightly crushed

1 sleeve of graham crackers (9 sheets), lightly crushed

1 cup semisweet chocolate bits

½ cup lightly salted peanuts

Coat a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large saucepan over medium-low, heat the butter, marshmallows and peanut butter. Stir until completely melted and smooth.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the graham cereal and graham crackers.

Stir to coat. Using buttered fingers, press the mixture into the prepared pan. Set aside.

In a microwave-safe dish, melt the chocolate bits by heating in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.

Spread the melted chocolate over the bars and sprinkle with the peanuts.